Virginia enjoys an Atlantic Ocean coastline on the mainland and on the peninsula known as the Delmarva because Delaware, Maryland and Virginia share the 183-mile-long spit of land. The state also has a long shoreline on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay, but those coastal areas offer little in the way of waterfront camping. Beachfront campgrounds are concentrated in a handful of locations.

Southern Virginia State Parks

First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach has a large campground with shady, spacious sites with picnic tables and fire rings. Some of the sites accommodate RVs up to 50 feet long, and many have electric and water hookups. The park, Virginia's most-visited, offers a sandy beach, hiking and biking trails, and interpretive programs. Because of its proximity to training bases, helicopter flyovers are common. Noise is not a problem at False Cape State Park. The beachfront campground near the North Carolina border, reachable only on foot, by boat or via the park's Terra Gator, has 12 primitive tent sites. Drinking water is available, but you must bring jugs to carry water back to the campsite. Vault toilets provide bathroom facilities.

Chesapeake Bay/Delmarva

Kiptopeke State Park, three miles from the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on the Delmarva Peninsula, is noted for its large population of hawks and migratory birds. The park has a half-mile, unguarded beach on the Chesapeake Bay, hiking and biking trails and a boardwalk system connecting the trails with the beach. A 147-site campground offers primitive, electric and water sites and RV sites with water, electricity and sewer hookups. If you don't have your own camping gear, you can spend the night in the park's yurt.

Atlantic Ocean/Delmarva

Much of Virginia's Atlantic Coast on the Delmarva is made up of uninhabited, marshy barrier islands. Chincoteague, at the Maryland state line, has several commercial campgrounds near the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Swimming is allowed at the refuge's guarded beaches, but camping is not. The Maddox Family Campground (chincoteague.com) has 550 sites, most with hookups, and a large grassy area for primitive tent camping. Pet-friendly Tom's Cove Park (tomscovepark.com) campground has three fishing piers, a boat launch and marina, and waterfront or wooded sites with hookups.

Southern Virginia Commercial Campgrounds

While it's not beachfront, a trolley operates between the Virginia Beach KOA (koa.com) and the ocean during the summer months. The campground has full hookup sites that accommodate rigs up to 45 feet long, a miniature golf course, a jumping pillow and a dog park. During the summer months, the KOA hosts marshmallow roasts and ice cream socials. North Landing Beach Campground and RV Resort (northlandingbeach.com) has a private beach on the Intracoastal Waterway near the North Carolina border. The campground offers wooded and waterfront primitive tent sites as well as tent sites with water and electrical hookups. RV sites have full hookups including 50-amp service.

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About the Author

Meg Jernigan has been writing for more than 30 years. She specializes in travel, cooking and interior decorating. Her offline credits include copy editing full-length books and creating marketing copy for nonprofit organizations. Jernigan attended George Washington University, majoring in speech and drama.